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Councilmember Hears Recommendations for Combating Youth Violence in the District
Washington, D.C. – Earlier today, exactly 100 days since a mass shooting on South Capitol Street, SE, Councilmember David Catania (At-Large), Chairman of the Committee on Health, held a joint public roundtable with the Committee on Human Services to hear the preliminary findings of the law firm Nixon Peabody LLP on possible solutions to the District’s chronic problem of youth and adolescent violence. Catania asked the firm to serve as Special Counsel to the Committee on Health to examine wide range of proposals to address this issue, including the possibility of early, targeted mental health intervention, juvenile justice reforms, and increased accountability for parents and guardians.
“A hundred days ago, a violent crime spree took the lives of 4 teenagers in our community. This mass shooting on South Capitol Street, and the events leading up to the attack, highlighted a problem that has existed for far too long in our city,” said Catania. “Many of our kids are being raised without the parenting and support they need, often leading to behavioral problems and violence. It is time we look to new solutions, and the findings presented by Nixon Peabody today represent the first step in that direction.”
The team from Nixon Peabody LLP suggested expanding early intervention programs for at-risk children, reforming how truancy and curfew violations are addressed, and placing a focus on parental accountability.
Nardyne Jefferies, mother of Brishell Jones, who was one of three people killed in the March 30 drive-by shooting on South Capitol Street, attended today’s hearing. Jefferies has participated in the Committee’s meetings with the firm and has become a leading voice of juvenile justice reform in the District.
Nixon Peabody LLP is a “Global 100” law firm—one of the largest in the world, employing 800 attorneys in 16 cities in addition to the District of Columbia. The firm will submit its final recommendations to the Committee later this summer. Legislative staff to Councilmember Catania will use this final report as a foundation to consider a range of legislative solutions to the District’s chronic problem of youth and adolescent violence.
Upon final submission, the report will be available for download at www.davidcatania.com |
